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REPORT (COM(2024)0407 – C100098/2024 – 2024/0224(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1026/2012 on certain measures for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing

A-10-2025-0070

Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Thomas Bajada

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Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 1026/2012 on measures against countries allowing non-sustainable fishing. It clarifies and strengthens the identification of such countries, cooperation requirements, and procedures before and after adopting measures. The amendments expand the definition of failure to cooperate, add new examples, require the Commission to respond to requests within 90 days, and mandate raising non-compliance within regional fisheries management organisations before adopting measures. The text also sets time limits for the country to reply and remedy the situation, and requires continued engagement after measures are adopted.

Committee position. The Committee on Fisheries proposes amendments to strengthen the regulation, including clearer definitions, expanded examples of failure to cooperate, and reinforced procedures involving RFMOs.

Key points

  1. Cooperation on managing straddling and highly migratory fish stocks may be established through regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) or ad hoc arrangements.
  2. Defines 'best available scientific advice' as publicly available advice from an independent scientific body recognised at Union or international level, based on up-to-date data and methods.
  3. A country may be considered as allowing non-sustainable fishing if it fails to implement, comply with or enforce relevant fishery management, conservation or control measures, including those agreed in an RFMO.
  4. Expands the definition of 'associated species' to include bycatch, and clarifies 'unsustainable state' in line with the precautionary approach and best available scientific advice.
  5. Failure to cooperate now includes unreasonable delays, requests, deadlines, maintaining positions over extended periods, unilateral measures, discriminatory measures, and lack of transparency.
  6. Identification as allowing non-sustainable fishing also occurs if a country systematically fails to comply with bilateral or multilateral agreements by not acting against illegal fishing by its vessels.
  7. The Commission must respond within 90 days to a request from a Member State or Parliament to identify a country, outlining intended actions.
  8. Before notifying a country of intention to identify it, the Commission must register all imports of that country's products that may be targeted.
  9. If the stock falls under an RFMO, the Commission must raise non-compliance in the relevant body before adopting measures, and take action if the country remains non-compliant.
  10. The country has a maximum of 90 days to reply to the notification and a further 90 days to remedy the situation.
  11. After adopting measures, the Commission must continue dialogue and promote cooperation bilaterally, multilaterally, or with the RFMO compliance body.
  12. Measures cease when the country adopts corrective measures agreed with the Union or within RFMOs, and that do not undermine Union measures.

Who is affected

  • Third countries identified as allowing non-sustainable fishing face potential trade measures and must comply with new procedural requirements.
  • Regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) gain a stronger role in compliance processes.
  • EU fishers benefit from strengthened measures against non-sustainable fishing by third countries.

Figures and deadlines

  • 90 days for the Commission to respond to a request to identify a country.
  • 90 days for the country to reply to the notification.
  • 90 days from the date of reply to remedy the situation.

Legal basis: Articles 43(2) and 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union